Salmos 89

1 Salmo 89
Salmo
de Etán el ezraíta.
¡Siempre cantaré acerca del amor inagotable del Señor
!
Jóvenes y ancianos oirán de tu fidelidad.

2 Tu amor inagotable durará para siempre;
tu fidelidad es tan perdurable como los cielos.

3 Dijo el Señor
: «Hice un pacto con David, mi siervo escogido.
Le hice este juramento:

4 “Estableceré a tus descendientes como reyes para siempre;
se sentarán en tu trono desde ahora y hasta la eternidad”».
Interludio

5 Todo el cielo alabará tus grandes maravillas, Señor
;
multitudes de ángeles te alabarán por tu fidelidad.

6 Pues, ¿quién se compara con el Señor
en todo el cielo?
¿Qué ángel poderosísimo se asemeja en algo al Señor
?

7 Los poderes angélicos más altos quedan en reverencia ante Dios con temor;
él es mucho más imponente que todos los que rodean su trono.

8 ¡Oh Señor
Dios de los Ejércitos Celestiales!
¿Dónde hay alguien tan poderoso como tú, Señor
?
Eres completamente fiel.

9 Gobiernas los océanos;
dominas las olas embravecidas por la tormenta.

10 Aplastas al gran monstruo marino;
dispersas a tus enemigos con tu brazo poderoso.

11 Los cielos te pertenecen y la tierra también;
todo lo que hay en el mundo es tuyo; tú lo creaste todo.

12 Creaste el norte y el sur;
el monte Tabor y el monte Hermón alaban tu nombre.

13 ¡Poderoso es tu brazo!
¡Fuerte es tu mano!
Tu mano derecha se levanta en alto con gloriosa fuerza.

14 La rectitud y la justicia son el cimiento de tu trono;
el amor inagotable y la verdad van como séquito delante de ti.

15 Felices son los que oyen el alegre llamado a la adoración,
porque caminarán a la luz de tu presencia, Señor
.

16 Todo el día se alegran de tu maravillosa fama;
se regocijan por tu justicia.

17 Tú eres la fuerza gloriosa de ellos.
A ti te agrada hacernos fuertes.

18 Así es, nuestra protección viene del Señor
,
y él, el Santo de Israel, nos ha dado nuestro rey.

19 Hace mucho tiempo hablaste a tu pueblo fiel en una visión.
Dijiste: «He levantado a un guerrero;
lo seleccioné de la gente común para que fuera rey.

20 Encontré a mi siervo David;
lo ungí con mi aceite santo.

21 Con mi mano lo mantendré firme,
con mi brazo poderoso, lo haré fuerte.

22 Sus enemigos no lo vencerán
ni lo dominarán los malvados.

23 Aplastaré a sus adversarios frente a él
y destruiré a los que lo odian.

24 Mi fidelidad y mi amor inagotable lo acompañarán,
y con mi autoridad crecerá en poder.

25 Extenderé su gobierno sobre el mar,
su dominio sobre los ríos.

26 Y él clamará a mí: “Tú eres mi Padre,
mi Dios y la Roca de mi salvación”.

27 Lo convertiré en mi primer hijo varón,
el rey más poderoso de la tierra.

28 Lo amaré y le daré mi bondad para siempre;
mi pacto con él nunca tendrá fin.

29 Me aseguraré de que tenga heredero;
su trono será interminable, como los días del cielo.

30 Pero, si sus descendientes abandonan mis enseñanzas
y dejan de obedecer mis ordenanzas,

31 si desobedecen mis decretos
y dejan de cumplir mis mandatos,

32 entonces castigaré su pecado con vara
y su desobediencia con azotes.

33 Pero jamás dejaré de amarlo
ni de cumplir la promesa que le hice.

34 Por nada romperé mi pacto;
no retiraré ni una sola palabra que he dicho.

35 Le hice un juramento a David
y por mi santidad no puedo mentir:

36 su dinastía seguirá por siempre;
su reino perdurará como el sol.

37 Será tan eterno como la luna,
¡la cual es mi fiel testigo en el cielo!»
Interludio

38 Pero ahora lo has rechazado y desechado
y estás enojado con tu rey ungido.

39 Has renunciado al pacto que hiciste con él;
arrojaste su corona al polvo.

40 Derribaste las murallas que lo protegían
y destruiste cada fuerte que lo defendía.

41 Todos los que pasan por allí le han robado,
y se ha convertido en la burla de sus vecinos.

42 Has fortalecido a sus enemigos
e hiciste que se alegraran.

43 Has hecho inservible su espada
y te negaste a ayudarlo en la batalla.

44 Pusiste fin a su esplendor
y derrocaste su trono.

45 Lo has hecho envejecer antes de tiempo
y lo deshonraste en público.
Interludio

46 Oh Señor
, ¿hasta cuándo seguirá esto?
¿Te esconderás para siempre?
¿Hasta cuándo arderá tu ira como el fuego?

47 Recuerda lo breve que es mi vida,
¡qué vacía e inútil es la existencia humana!

48 Nadie puede vivir para siempre; todos morirán;
nadie puede escapar del poder de la tumba.
Interludio

49 Señor, ¿dónde está tu amor inagotable?
Le diste tu palabra a David mediante una promesa fiel.

50 ¡Considera, Señor, cómo pasan vergüenza tus siervos!
Llevo en mi corazón los insultos de mucha gente.

51 Tus enemigos se han burlado de mí, oh Señor
;
se mofan de tu rey ungido por dondequiera que va.

52 ¡Alaben al Señor
para siempre!
¡Amén y amén!

Salmos 89 Commentary

Chapter 89

God's mercy and truth, and his covenant. (1-4) The glory and perfection of God. (5-14) The happiness of those in communion with him. (15-18) God's covenant with David, as a type of Christ. (19-37) A calamitous state lamented, Prayer for redress. (38-52)

Verses 1-4 Though our expectations may be disappointed, yet God's promises are established in the heavens, in his eternal counsels; they are out of the reach of opposers in hell and earth. And faith in the boundless mercy and everlasting truth of God, may bring comfort even in the deepest trials.

Verses 5-14 The more God's works are known, the more they are admired. And to praise the Lord, is to acknowledge him to be such a one that there is none like him. Surely then we should feel and express reverence when we worship God. But how little of this appears in our congregations, and how much cause have we to humble ourselves on this account! That almighty power which smote Egypt, will scatter the enemies of the church, while all who trust in God's mercy will rejoice in his name; for mercy and truth direct all he does. His counsels from eternity, and their consequences to eternity, are all justice and judgment.

Verses 15-18 Happy are those who so know the joyful sound of the gospel as to obey it; who experience its power upon their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives. Though believers are nothing in themselves, yet having all in Christ Jesus, they may rejoice in his name. May the Lord enable us to do so. The joy of the Lord is the strength of his people; whereas unbelief dispirits ourselves and discourages others. Though it steals upon us under a semblance of humility, yet it is the very essence of pride. Christ is the Holy One of Israel; and in him was that peculiar people more blessed than in any other blessing.

Verses 19-37 The Lord anointed David with the holy oil, not only as an emblem of the graces and gifts he received, but as a type of Christ, the King Priest, and Prophet, anointed with the Holy Ghost without measure. David after his anointing, was persecuted, but none could gain advantage against him. Yet all this was a faint shadow of the Redeemer's sufferings, deliverance, glory, and authority, in whom alone these predictions and promises are fully brought to pass. He is the mighty God. This is the Redeemer appointed for us, who alone is able to complete the work of our salvation. Let us seek an interest in these blessings, by the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. As the Lord corrected the posterity of David for their transgressions, so his people shall be corrected for their sins. Yet it is but a rod, not a sword; it is to correct, not to destroy. It is a rod in the hand of God, who is wise, and knows what he does; gracious, and will do what is best. It is a rod which they shall never feel, but when there is need. As the sun and moon remain in heaven, whatever changes there seem to be in them, and again appear in due season; so the covenant of grace made in Christ, whatever alteration seems to come to it, should not be questioned.

Verses 38-52 Sometimes it is not easy to reconcile God's providences with his promises, yet we are sure that God's works fulfil his word. When the great Anointed One, Christ himself, was upon the cross, God seemed to have cast him off, yet did not make void his covenant, for that was established for ever. The honour of the house of David was lost. Thrones and crowns are often laid in the dust; but there is a crown of glory reserved for Christ's spiritual seed, which fadeth not away. From all this complaint learn what work sin makes with families, noble families, with families in which religion has appeared. They plead with God for mercy. God's unchangeableness and faithfulness assure us that He will not cast off those whom he has chosen and covenanted with. They were reproached for serving him. The scoffers of the latter days, in like manner, reproach the footsteps of the Messiah when ( 2 Peter. 3:3 2 Peter. 3:4 ) records of the Lord's dealings with the family of David, show us his dealings with his church, and with believers. Their afflictions and distresses may be grievous, but he will not finally cast them off. Self-deceivers abuse this doctrine, and others by a careless walk bring themselves into darkness and distress; yet let the true believer rely on it for encouragement in the path of duty, and in bearing the cross. The psalm ends with praise, even after this sad complaint. Those who give God thanks for what he has done, may give him thanks for what he will do. God will follow those with his mercies, who follow him with praises.

Chapter Summary

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. Who this Ethan was is not certain. Kimchi takes him to be the same with Ethan the wise man, a grandson of Judah, 1 Kings 4:31. But seeing he lived some hundreds of years before the times of David, it is not likely that he should be the writer of this psalm; for David is made mention of in it, which could not be, unless it can be thought to be by a spirit of prophecy; which indeed is the opinion of Doctor Lightfoot {k}, who takes this Ethan to be the penman of this psalm; and who "from the promise, Genesis 15:1 sings joyfully the deliverance (of Israel); that the raging of the Red sea should be ruled, Psalm 89:9, and Rahab, or Egypt, should be broken in pieces, Psalm 89:10, and that the people should hear the joyful sound of the law, Psalm 89:15, and as for the name of David in it, this, he says, might be done prophetically; as Samuel is thought to be named by Moses, Psalm 99:6, which psalm is held to be made by him; or else might be put into it, in later times, by some divine penman, endued with the same gift of prophecy, who might improve the ground work of this psalm laid by Ethan, and set it to an higher key; namely, that whereas he treated only of bodily deliverance from Egypt, it is wound up so high as to reach the spiritual delivery by Christ; and therefore David is often named, from whence he should come."

There was another Ethan, a singer, in David's time; and it is more probable that he is the person, who might live to the times of Rehoboam, and see the decline of David's family, and the revolt of the ten tribes from it; or perhaps it was one of this name who lived in the times of the Babylonish captivity, and saw the low estate that David's family were come into; to which agrees the latter part of this psalm; and, in order to comfort the people of God, he wrote this psalm, showing that the covenant and promises of God, made with David, nevertheless stood firm, and would be accomplished: the title of the Septuagint version calls him Etham the Israelite; and the Arabic version Nathan the Israelite: the Targum makes him to be Abraham, paraphrasing it "a good understanding, which was said by the hand of Abraham, that came from the east."

But whoever was the penman of this psalm, it is "maschil," an instructive psalm, a psalm causing to understand; it treats concerning the covenant of grace, and the promises of it; and concerning the mercy and faithfulness of God, in making and keeping the same; and concerning the Messiah and his seed, his church and people; and the stability and duration of all these: many passages in it are applied to the Messiah by Jewish writers, ancient and modern; and Psalm 89:20 is manifestly referred to in Acts 13:22.